Technology keeps touch panel functional even if wet

A new Wet & Glove touch screen technology features an 8.4-in. XGA display. It is an amorphous-silicon thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) module with a wet and glove PCAP (projected capacitive) touch sensor bonded to the front. It allows operation even when the screen is wet and/or the operator is wearing gloves. It provides dry screen tracking, water buildup tracking and single glove operation, even in a wet environment. It can also be used with medical grade defibrillator gel and ultrasound gel.

The PCAP touch panels are being adopted in industrial equipment for the flush surface designs, multi-touch functionality and gesture operation capability. This trend is particularly notable in display-based devices for use in outdoor equipment or medical devices or marine appliances. Key features of the touch panel technology include combination of mutual-capacitance and self-capacitance sensors, sensitivity adjustment, using a proprietary touch panel controller, and treatments to protect against fingerprints or reduce glare.